Demetris Koutsoumpas, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), has formally requested that the Ministry of Culture provide the party with a high-resolution digital copy of the 12 photographs documenting the execution of 200 communists at Kaisariani on May 1, 1944. In a letter dated March 6, 2026, addressed to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Koutsoumpas emphasized that the next step after the Ministry’s recent acquisition of the images is their responsible use—honoring the victims’ sacrifice and serving historical memory and public education.
A Call for Historical Stewardship
The request seeks the original digital files—including both sides of each photograph—at the highest possible resolution. According to Koutsoumpas, these materials would support historical documentation, commemorative events, and educational initiatives. He noted that the KKE’s Central Committee already holds archival material related to the executed individuals, including personal letters, notes, and belongings.
Historical Context and Broader Support
Koutsoumpas underscored that most of those executed in Kaisariani were KKE members and cadres, many of whom had already been imprisoned by the authoritarian regime of August 4th for their political activities. Their courage and sacrifice, he wrote, remain integral to the party’s history and to Greece’s broader popular struggles.
The letter also highlights that the request reflects the wishes of hundreds of descendants of the victims. Similar appeals have been submitted by historians, academics, cultural institutions, and the municipalities of Kaisariani and Chaidari.
Background: The Photographs’ Public Release
The harrowing photographs—long considered among the most emblematic visual records of Nazi occupation in Greece—were officially presented by the Ministry of Culture on Thursday, March 5, 2026, shortly after entering the Greek state’s archives. One widely circulated image captures the moment immediately after the firing squad opened fire: German soldiers are seen lowering their rifles, smoke and bullet trajectories still visible.
According to official statements, additional photographs exist but were withheld from public release out of respect for the deceased and their families, as they depict extremely graphic scenes.